Liverpool displayed their new kit for their final home game this season against Chelsea at Anfield but that’s the only new thing they displayed in this fixture. Their dismal performance fetched them one point luckily but their chance of finishing in the top six is still under clouds. If they win the Europa League final against Sevilla next week, it will give them a place in the Champions League next season.
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Both teams looked very good on paper but Chelsea were the ones who had the upper hand throughout the match, except for the beginning where the home team dominated. The defending champions were in the lead 32 minutes into the match after a brilliant goal from Eden Hazard which looked as though it was a winner until the second last minute of the stoppage time when Christian Benteke cancelled out Hazard’s goal and handed Liverpool a point from the fixture.
Here are the five talking points from the game.
1) Eden Hazard back in form
Eden Hazard can either be one of the greatest players or a massive flop, and in this fixture, he showed why and how he can be the former. He was the best player on the pitch. From the beginning of the season until March, he hadn’t scored a single goal and in between last month and now, he has four goals which clearly indicates he’s back in form.
For the majority of this season he hasn't performed upto even 50% of his level and only scored his first goal of the season last month.
He scored Chelsea’s only goal in this match which happened to be a beautiful one. He dribbled past four Liverpool defenders and then curled it into the corner. He had 9 take-ons, a 95% passing accuracy, with 3 chances created and 3 shots.
His upturn in form hasn't been dramatic since Hiddink took over; for a player of his ability he is probably doing the minimum of what you'd expect but since the season is almost over, it’ll be Belgium that benefits from his form.
2) Liverpool dismal after the initial good start
Liverpool started the game as you would expect a Jurgen Klopp team to do - pressing and with hunger, all things that have been a common theme at Anfield under his short tenure so far. But then it all went a little wrong, not what was expected with that strong Liverpool side.
The exact same team was played that started the heroic semi-final against Villarreal, with another chance for Toure and Lovren to get accustomed before the important showdown in Basel next week.
Daniel Sturridge looked sharp and tried to find room to run into space, Coutinho, Firmino and Lallana doing their usual pressing from the front to force Chelsea into mistakes, Can and Milner followed with their pressing philosophy that has worked wonders so far.
But then Chelsea started to work out how to stop this, stretching the Liverpool midfield and creating gaps for Traore to run into using his deadly pace. Hazard and Pedro continuously found space in the middle, Matic dropped deep which allowed Fabregas to dictate play and make delicate passes which Can and Milner struggled to stop.
3) Lack of Liverpool build-up play
The Chelsea build up play was far more positive than Liverpool's. Especially in the first half, Liverpool struck a lot of silly shots from outside the box, particularly in the second half, not doing them any good.
Liverpool had 25 chances but most were pointless ones from outside the area. They had 14 shots in the first half, but only four in the box and only 1 of those was on target.
The Reds started the second half a little better. With no changes, Klopp went with the same team that has been doing the goods for him in recent weeks, but nothing clicked till Allen and Benteke were brought in.
There was a little more energy in the second half. Milner and Can took it in turns to push forward and give Chelsea an extra man to think about, this created the chances for Chelsea to hit Liverpool on the counter-attack, with Fabregas's vision to find the pacy Traore, Hazard and Pedro. Liverpool were always vulnerable to these risks that Chelsea posed.
From an attacking point of view, the second half was a game of half chances. With Liverpool failing with their build up play, they couldn't find the gaps needed to unlock the Chelsea defence.
In the final 15 minutes, Liverpool were a little more clever with their movement; the energy of Joe Allen helped in the midfield, with his dynamic presence helping invigorate the Liverpool attack. Christian Benteke coming on helped as well as he added more fight and scored the equalizer for his team and saved the match.
4) Chelsea’s defence
Liverpool have recently scored multiple times against teams at Anfield, so Chelsea can feel a sense of an achievement to have kept a clean sheet for 90 minutes only to squander it in the dying minutes.
This was not a usual settled back four. Baba and Mikel, the unfamiliar faces in defence, alongside the consistent Cahill and Azpilicueta. They did have the luxury of having Nemanja Matic to sit in front of them, making the job a bit easier.
The Chelsea fullbacks were able to push on isolating the Liverpool attack from midfield and create the width that made spaces for the Chelsea attack. Cahill and Mikel were rarely dragged apart by the fluid Liverpool front line.
5) Liverpool comeback
Liverpool have been in the news lately for their comebacks but it just got them a draw this time and not a win. It was an exciting goal just two minutes before the full-time whistle by Christian Benteke which ensured Liverpool get at least one point.
After a bright start, Chelsea dominated and Liverpool, even if not at their best weren't discouraged, and kept coming back at Chelsea; first trying to pass their way into the net and then with the arrival of plan B, they found their way through a more unorthodox style of play.
Liverpool certainly didn’t deserve a win based on that performance but with all those chances created, they did deserve at least one point. Begovic could not put away the cross from second half substitute Ojo completely, which landed straight to Christian Benteke who then nodded it into the net.
